"A Woman Waits For Me" (Part IIIV: Lines 1-15)

Summary: This poem begins describing sex and all it contains. Whitman believes sex is deeper than just the physical but souls, minds, bodies. It has everything and he explains that sex contains all the mysteries of the world. To him, there is no shame from either party. He refuses those that seem impassive and only pleasure those that burn with passion for him.

Commentary: At first glance, this poem seems exceedingly raunchy but it's deeper than that. People my age assume that sex is just an action, but in reality it's SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. Whitman realizes this also, "Sex contains all, Bodies, Souls, meanings, proofs, purities, delicacies, results, promulgations, Songs, commands, health, pride, the maternal mystery, the seminal milk; All hopes, benefactions, bestowals, All the passions, loves, beauties, delights of the earth, All the governments, judges, gods, follow'd persons of the earth, These are contain'd in sex, as parts of itself, and justifications of itself." If only more people realized this, maybe people would be hurt less because they'd make more informed decisions about sex. I don’t think this was the purpose Whitman had in mind when writing this, but his words definitely struck me as something teens today need to hear.